1906.] Proceedings of Irish Societies. 179 



Bei^fast NATURAI.ISTS' FiEivD Club. 



June 9. — The second field meeting of this Club was held in a salt mine 

 near Carrickfergus. A party of fifty reached Kilroot by the 12.30 train, 

 and walked along the shore to examine the raised-beach gravels that 

 occur near the station. 



While man}' members of the part}- were carefully examining the 

 gravels others were equally busy making additions to their botanical 

 collections. The short time and very limited range of exploration did 

 not promise much, but some of the plants collected are worthy of 

 mention. The Viper's Bugloss was seen growing on waste ground close 

 to the station, and the Pepperwort {Lepidiitiii Draba) was found near 

 Eden. The rare moss Zygodon Stirtoni was found on the wall of the bridge 

 north of Kilroot. This species is rare in Britain, and seems to be con- 

 fined in Ireland to the North-east. Many forms of insects were captured 

 and preserved for future identification. 



Leaving the shore, the party walked on to see the Garden of Eden, 

 and thence on to the Tennant Salt Mines. Here every suitable arrange- 

 ment was made for the descent into the mine, and the whole party were 

 lowered to the floor of the mine, some 335 feet from the surface. The 

 ordinary miners' lamps were supplemented with coloured lights, and the 

 grand face of salt 46 feet thick, was very carefully displayed — so clearly 

 indeed that a photograph was taken of the scene. 



In 1850 the then Marquis of Downshire, anxious to develop the mineral 

 resources of the county, made trial borings in search of coal near Carrick- 

 fergus, and along the slopes between it and Carrickfergus. At Duncrue, 

 to the north-west of the town, rock salt, not coal, was struck at about 

 600 feet from the surface, and since then the rock salt has been worked 

 with more or less energy, and it is now developed into a very valuable 

 local industry. About ten years ago the Chemical Salt Company opened 

 the mine at Eden. The thickness of the bed of salt rock at Eden is 96 

 feet. Of this about 50 feet is kept intact to form the roof of the mine, 

 and the lower 46 feet is worked almost in one face of pure salt in a series 

 of great spacious chambers 30 to 40 feet high. Mr. T. A. Walker con- 

 ducted the party through the workings, and explained that all the rock 

 was shipped to their works in England and Scotland. An interesting 

 discussion took place in the mine as to the nature and origin of the 

 deposit and its relation to all the other geological formations of the 

 County Antrim. 



At the formal meeting held in the mine under the chairmanship of the 

 Vice-President, Mr. W. H. Phillips, some new members were elected, 

 and the thanks of the Club passed to Mr. Walker for his attention and 

 courtesy during the day. 



After a smart walk back to Carrickfergus the party had the very great 

 advantage of seeing over the Castle, by the '.kind permission of the 

 military authorities. This excellent example of an Irish castle bristles 

 with historic reminiscences. 



